Amid the spread of discussions regarding a special pardon for former Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk within the ruling camp, various voices are emerging within the Democratic Party of Korea regarding whether to support or oppose the pardon and when it should happen. The party leadership has expressed its position that "pardon is the president's exclusive authority," distancing itself from the matter, but some lawmakers are publicly calling for the necessity of a pardon.
The atmosphere within the party appears to be divided into three main opinions. A lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea in the capital region stated in a call with ChosunBiz on the 30th, "Looking at the party atmosphere, opinions are divided into those wanting a pardon on 8·15, those wanting it at the end of the year, and those wanting to leave it to the president's discretion," adding, "If too many comments arise unnecessarily, only conflict will ensue. Therefore, there is a current trend of not discussing this matter much within the party."
On the other hand, direct and indirect calls for a pardon are continuing. Supporters of the pardon emphasize its "effect on social integration."
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Ko Min-jeong, who worked with former leader Cho at the Blue House, said on her Facebook on the 29th, "I just met with Leader Cho Kuk," noting that "the reason many want Cho's pardon is that through him, they are reflecting on themselves." Governor of Gyeonggi Province Kim Dong-yeon also publicly stated the necessity of a pardon for former leader Cho on the same day, saying, "I request the special pardon for former leader Cho Kuk." Representative Kang Duck-gu also stated earlier that "I think the pardon for former representative Cho Kuk is another form of social integration."
Another lawmaker from the capital region said, "The result of this presidential election is the people judging the Yoon Suk-yeol government," adding, "A declaration is needed that we will not let such brutal power go unchecked again, and the pardon for Cho Kuk could be part of that." He further emphasized that "there must be measures to rectify the victims of the political prosecution power for social justice and integration to be possible."
The leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea is maintaining a certain distance from the discussion on pardons. A member of the party leadership commented, "There has never been such talk within the leadership. The pardon discussion is the president's authority." According to the Constitution, special pardons are the exclusive authority of the president, and if the president approves the agenda proposed by the Minister of Justice, he/she can exempt or nullify the execution of sentences.
There are also prospects that discussions within the party regarding the pardon may reignite when a new leadership emerges during the party convention on August 2.
Candidates for the party leadership have not clearly expressed their positions on the pardon for former leader Cho Kuk. In the final TV debate for party leader candidates held the previous night, candidate Jeong Cheong-rae responded to the OX quiz question, "Will you propose a pardon for Cho Kuk to President Lee Jae-myung?" by saying, "As a party leader (candidate), it is not right to quibble about the special exclusive authority of the president. Surely the president will make a wise judgment." Candidate Park Chan-dae also commented, "I am not here as an individual but as a party leader candidate, so it is not appropriate to formally disclose the party's position on the pardon in advance."
Former leader Cho Kuk has been indicted on charges of admission fraud for his children and misconduct allegations involving Yoo Jae-soo, the former Deputy Mayor of Busan for Economic Affairs, and has been undergoing criminal trials. The first instance court sentenced former Minister Cho to two years in prison and a fine of 6 million won, and the second instance also maintained the same sentence, dismissing the appeal. Subsequently, on December 12, 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, finalizing the conviction, and former leader Cho has been serving his sentence since December 16 of the same year.